Coolayla

To the north west of Gympie lies the sleepy little town of Goomeri, a town which, for one weekend a year, explodes into life with the famous Goomeri Pumpkin Festival.

The last Sunday in May each year sees Goomeri’ population explode as over 13,000 visitors invade the area to enjoy the fun, the games, and some of the silliness that goes with a pumpkin festival.  The festivities begin the night before the festival with a dinner dance. Here, you can enjoy a country style dinner, local wine and continuous dancing until midnight.

The following morning and Goomeri is full of action with up to 200 market stalls lining the streets. Entertainment and displays vary and often include a street parade,  whip cracking demonstrations and competitions, Clydesdale competitions, square dancing and fashion parades. A variety of music plays throughout the day. Goomeri’s speciality shops are open for the day and local wineries are in attendance.

What is a festival without some hilarity and with the Pumpkin Festival we have the legendary Great Australian Pumpkin Roll. Come 2pm pumpkins of all shapes and sizes go rolling down Policeman’s Hill – some make it, some become pumpkin mash.

As if the Pumpkin Roll is not enough, you can try your hand at Pumpkin Bowls, enter the Decorated Pumpkin competition, of course the Giant Pumpkin competition and a Pumpkin Patchwork Challenge and Quilt Show.

You want food, then try these tempting pumpkin delights which include soup, damper scones, pumpkin pie and the delicious pumpkin fudge.

I discover Goomeri shortly after arriving in Gympie on one of our casual aimless trips around the area. The pumpkin pie is an absolute treat. The people warm and friendly. The atmosphere is calm, relaxed and easy going.

Goomeri is the perfect spot for a lazy day trip – well lazy unless you visit on that last weekend in May.

Yum – pumpkin pie – it’s not May yet is it – beauty – I am off to get some before the tourist invade the place and eat the lot.